Critical Care Nurse Skills Checklist

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________________

In order to provide suitable assignments for you, this checklist is intended as a method of assessing your professionalproficiency. Please rate your skill level as accurately as possible by placing a check ( ) in the appropriate box.

1 = No experience; Theory/observed only2 = Intermittent experience; < 5 times per year; Needs review3 = Moderate experience; > 5 times per year; May need minimal resource4 = Competent; Performs on a daily or weekly basis; Proficient

Skill Level 1 2 3 4 Skill Level 1 2 3 4Cardiovascular Cardiovascular contAssessment Assisting with:

Abnormal heart sounds/murmurs Arterial line insertionAuscultation (rate, rhythm) Central line insertionBlood pressure/non-invasive Open chest emergencyDoppler PA catheter/Swan-Ganz insertionPulses/circulation checks Pericardiocentesis

Interpretation of lab results Transesophageal echocardiogramCardiac enzymes & isoenzymes Automatic internal cardioverter defibCoagulation studies Cardioversion

Equipment usage & procedure CAVH-DIntra aortic balloon pump Care of the patient with:Hemodynamic monitoring Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Cardiac index Acute MICardiac output Cardiac arrestCVP monitoring Cardiac tamponadeFemoral artery sheath removal Congestive heart failure (CHF)MAP EP study & ablationPA/Swan-Ganz Heart transplantPCW pressure Immediate post open-heart surgeryPVR Infective endocarditisRadial a-line Myocardial contusionSVO2 PericarditisSVR Post AICD insertion

Monitoring Post arthrectomy (DCA)12 lead EKG interpretation Post commissurotomyArrhythmia interpretation Valve repairRhythm strip assessment Valve replacementSet up and run 12 lead EKG Post intercoronary stent placement

Pacemaker Post percut. balloon valvuloplastyExternal Post rotobladePermenant/Temporary Pre/post angioplastyTransthoracic (epicardial) Pre/post cardiac catheter

Cardiovascular cont Pulmonary contMedications Equipment usage & procedure

Amiodarone (Cardarone) Establishing an airwayAtropine Assist with intubationBicarbonate Oral airway insertionBretylium (Bretylol) Identification for respiratory compl.Digoxin (Lanoxin) AspirationDiltiazem (Cardizem) LaryngospasmDobutamine (Dobutrex) Tension pneumothoraxDopamine (Intropin) Use of Pleurevac drainageEpinephrine (Adrenalin) Use of Thoraclex drainageEsmolol (Brevibloc) Use of water seal drainageInocor (Amrinone) Ventilator managementLidocaine (Xylocaine) External CPAPMetoprolol (Lopressor) High frequency jet ventilationNipride (Nitroprusside) IMVNitroglycerine (Tridil) PEEPProcainamide (Pronestyl) Pressure supportReteplase recombinant (Retavase) Weaning modes & T-Piece weanStreptokinase Care of the patient with:TPA (Alteplase) Acute pneumoniaVerapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) ARDS

Pulmonary Chest traumaAssessment: adventitious breath sounds COPDAssessment: rate and work of breathing Cor pulmonaleInterpretation of lab results - blood gas Fresh tracheostomyEquipment usage & procedure Lobectomy

Air leak troubleshooting Lung transplantMediastinal chest tube removal Near drowningPleural chest tube removal Pneumonectomy

Airway management devices Pulmonary edema/hypertensionEndotracheal tube/suctioning Pulmonary embolismExtubation Status asthmaticusNasal airway/suctioning ThoracotomyOximetry TuberculosisSputum specimen collection MedicationsTracheostomy/suctioning Alupent (metaproterenol)

Assist with: Aminophylline (Theophylline)Bronchoscopy Bronkosol (Isoetharine hydrochloride)Chest tube insertion CorticosteroidsEmergency tracheostomy Ventolin (Albuterol)Thoracentesis Neurological

O2 therapy & med delivery systems Assessment:Ambu bag and mask Cranial nervesET tube Glasgow coma scaleFace mask Level of consciousnessNasal cannula Pathologic reflexesPortable O2 tank Reflex/motor deficitsTrach collar Visual or communication deficits

Neurological cont Gastrointestinal contEquipment usage & procedure Equipment usage & procedure

Assist with lumbar puncture Iced saline lavageHalo traction/cervical tongs Management of gastrostomy tubeIntracranial pressure monitoring Management of jejunostomy tubeNerve stimulators Management of T-tubeRotating bed Management of TPN and lipids adminSeizure precautions Management of PPNSpinal precautions Placement of nasogastric tubeStryker frame Salem sump to suctionUse of hyper/hypothermia blanket Care of the patient with:

Care of the patient with: Blunt traumaAneurysm precautions Bowel obstructionBasal skull fracture ColostomyClosed head injury ERCPComa Esophageal bleedingCVA GI bleedingDTs GI surgeryEncephalitis HepatitisExternalized VP shunts IleostomyIncreased ICP Inflammatory bowel diseaseLaminectomy Liver failureMeningitis Liver transplantMetastatic tumor PancreatitisIntracranial tumor resection Paralytic ileusMultiple sclerosis Penetrating traumaPost craniotomy MedicationsSpinal cord injury AqualMephyton (Vitamin K)Ventriculostomy Inderal (Propranolol)

Medications KayexelateBarbiturate induced coma Lactulose (Cephulac)Decadron (Dexamethasone) Pitressin (Vasopressin)Dilantin (Phenytoin) Renal / GenitourinaryEpidural administration Assessment of A-V fisulaPhenobarbital Assessment of A-V shuntValium (Diazepam) Assessment of fluid status

Gastrointestinal Interpretation of lab resultsAssessment of abdominal/bowel sounds BUNAssessment of nutrional data CreatinineInterpretation of lab results Serum electrolytes

Serum ammonia Equipment usage & procedureSerum amylase Bladder irrigationLFTs Insertion & care of:

Equipment usage & procedure Straight catheterAdministration of tube feeding Foley catheterBalloon tamponade 3-way FoleyFeeding pump FemaleFlexible feeding tube MaleGravity feeding Supra-pubic

Renal / Genitourinary cont Phlebotomy / IV TherapyCare of the patient with: Equipment usage & procedure

Acute renal failure Administration of blood & productsCAVH dialysis CryoprecipitateHemodialysis Packed red blood cellsNephrectomy Plasma/albuminPeritoneal dialysis Whole bloodRenal rejection syndrome Drawing blood from central lineRenal transplant Drawing venous bloodTURP Starting IVsUrinary diversion AngiocathUrinary tract infection Butterfly

Endocrine / Metabolic Heparin lockInterpretation of lab results Care of the patient with:

Blood glucose Central line/catheter/dressingThyroid studies Broviac

Equipment usage & procedure GroshongBlood glucose measuring devices HickmanBlood glucose monitoring PortacathPerforming finger stick Quinton

Care of the patient with: Peripheral line/dressingDiabetes mellitus Pain ManagementDiabetic ketoacidosis Assessment of pain level/toleranceDisorders of adrenal gland Care of the patient with:Disorders of pituitary gland Epidural anesthesia/analgesiaDrug overdose IV conscious sedationHyperthyroidism (Grave's disease) Patient controlled analgesiaHypothyroidism MiscellaneousInsulin shock Care of the patient with:Thyroidectomy Anaphylactic shock

Medication - Insulin pump DICWound Management Hypovolemic shockAssessment of: Multi-system organ failure

Skin for impending breakdown Organ/tissue donationStasis ulcers Septic shockSurgical wound healing Age Specific Practice Criteria

Equipment usage & procedure Newborn/Neonate (birth - 30 days)Air fluidized, low air loss beds Infant (30 days - 1 year)Sterile dressing changes Toddler (1 - 3 years)Wound care/irrigations Preschooler (3 - 5 years)

Care of the patient with: School age children ( 5 -12 years)Burns/pressure sores Adolescents (12 - 18 years)Staged decubitus ulcers Young adults (18 - 39 years)Surgical wounds with drains(s) Middle adults (39 - 64 years)Traumatic wounds Older adults (64+ years)

The preceding information I have checked is true and correct.

Signature: Date:P.A. Form AKO006.3 Rev 11/02